The Dobbs Wire: Just out – Florida registry report

The Dobbs Wire: A report on Florida’s sex offense registry is just out, issued by an agency that works for the state’s lawmakers. Big takeaway – the number of registrants continues to climb and has been increasing for many years. Why? That key question is not answered. According to the report, the state’s registry has more than 73,000 listings. However, the number living in Florida communities is much smaller, less than 29,000. That’s quite a lot of registrants that are classified as living out-of-state, incarcerated, deceased(!), etc. Also in the report are various ways the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is “improving” the registry along with a letter from FDLE claiming the state’s registry is a “valuable public safety tool.” Their statement raises an obvious question, is the registry benefitting public safety? Research – lots of it – indicates registries do NOT improve public safety but this report manages to avoid that important topic. The document does have lots of information including county-by-county registry numbers, a map of counties with residential banishment laws, a timeline of state laws related to the registry, registry demographics, costs registrants must pay, and more details concerning the operation of a 21st century official government blacklist. Here is the Associated Press take on the report, a National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate story about homeless issued cover in the report, and a link to the report by The Florida Legislature Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. Have a look! -Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire [email protected]

Associated Press via Miami Herald | Dec. 31, 2018

Report: Number of sex offenders living in Florida is growing

By Gary Fineout

The number of sex offenders and predators living in Florida has been rising steadily for more than a decade, according to a new report put together by legislative auditors. The report issued late last week stated that nearly 29,000 registered sex offenders and predators now reside in the state. That’s an increase of 53 percent since 2005, when state legislators first ordered their auditors to review the state’s efforts to keep an up-to-date registry of sex offenders.

The report by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability does not include any explanations for the rise.

Legislative auditors noted that the state’s registry lists more than 73,000 sexual offenders and predators, but the majority of them do not live among the public in Florida. Instead, many of them live in other states or have been sent back to prison. Auditors stated that the typical registered sex offender in Florida was a white, middle-aged male: 75 percent of those on the registry were white, followed by African-Americans at 24 percent. MORE:

Excerpts: Jacksonville has the state’s highest rate of registered sex offenders or predators without a permanent address. Of the 10 Florida counties with the most transient sex offenders per capita, only three have any housing that explicitly welcomes registered offenders, the report notes.

The report by the Legislature’s Office of Policy Analysis and Government Accountability states, “This combination (of factors) can lead to an increase in homelessness, loss of family support, and financial hardship, which are all known to be destabilizing factors. Offenders who lack stability are more likely to reoffend.”

State auditors say other barriers include an increasingly restrictive schedule of required check-ins with local law enforcement, increased restrictions on movement and places where they’re allowed to live, and increasingly harsh punishments for not complying with these rules. As of 2014, transient offenders have to check in every 30 days, and when they don’t, local sheriff’s offices must undertake the time-consuming task of trying to locate them, the report said. For example, some offices reported that it’s difficult to find a transient offender’s campsite in a wooded area and can take several attempts to verify their location.

Around 29,000 registered offenders now call Florida home. The report includes a county-by-county breakdown showing that urban counties had the highest overall number of sex offenders. The report does not include any explanations for the rise. Legislative auditors noted that the state’s registry lists more than 73,000 sexual offenders and predators, but the majority of them do not live among the public in Florida. Instead, many of them live in other states or have been sent back to prison. MORE:

You should look up the federal privacy act and the federal freedom of information act. Both laws obligate state and federal agencies to not only provide but also correct any information they retain about you. Also remember, document, document, document everything. You should also seek the advice of legal counsel since you might have standing in a civil action against any government agency that provides false information about you.

NARSOL has just published an article regarding the out-of-state (and deceased) numbers within the FDLE. I have indicated that the FAC is raising funds to combat this very issue. Hope it gets some response for all of us..

Muriel can you give us the thread or link,please? I had contacted several other state advocates to help with the Out Of State Fund for F.A.C but never gotten any response because they thought I was a scammer, but I am not. Perhaps If I can see the article and find the story you mention I could email or call the person myself to see we can get more people interested.

funny thing i found out through this report, its not even a law that officers come knocking on our doors when ever they want to see our id…..when we go register this already satisfies federal standard(mandate) for residence verification….this is police harassment….particularly when its not your place and people are trying to help you…….

See the problem with that is, if you dont then you get arrested. I was told after the 3rd attempt by the officers to verify in person your address you would be arrested and charged.even though it’s a pain and aggravating to do that, I would prefer to not have anymore charges and i imagine many others feel the same way. As is finding or actually getting any kind of help for us is extremely difficult or impossible

You were told incorrectly. There is no such law that if they attempt to verify your address 3 times and you are not home, you will be arrested. People work, people have social commitments, people are not on house arrest.
Generally, the worst thing that will happen is they will start knocking on neighbors doors with your flier and ask if they have seen you there. That’s humiliating.

Ok, that’s what Polk county sheriff’s officers have said, but thank you for clarifying it. As for neighbors knowing, they already know which is why my mailbox has a bullet hole and been smashed. Part of life.

As per Florida Statutes, you have 3 weeks to respond to any written correspondence from your local law enforcement. This includes address/id verifications.
Should they attempt a check and not leave anything notifying you of such that is their fault.

Please be sure we are distinguishing between the FDLE’s post cards that are mailed to your address and the personal address verification that are performed by local law enforcement. These are two different things.

I was hoping to create a post that asks about registration problems: online system ( working, not working etc) clerical errors by staff etc. I wanted to see if this is a trend that affects a few or many.
Specific problems:

Exactly, what we the public have is essentially just a map that says “Here there be dragons!”

The research shows that the registry doesn’t significantly improve public safety, but Law Enforcement for the most part claim it is a useful tool, I think it’s about time we find out how that tool is being used if it isn’t catching repeat offenders.

My anecdotal answer is that the registry is an open acknowledgement that the Government is unwilling to take pro-active steps to prevent sexual crimes against children and instead is relying on the “It’s them, not us!” Approach to deflect from a lack of solutions.

Case in point is the conflation of pedophiles with people who have committed sexual crimes against children. Pedophilia is a diagnosable condition where someone experience an overpowering sexual preference for children, and even my treatment provider admits that in over thirty years he has met less than five people he suspected were actual pedophiles. And who amongst us has been sat down before a qualified clinician to be diagnosed? None of us, but this won’t prevent prosecutors and politicians from labeling any one of us pedophiles in court, press releases, and on TV news. It’s the same as calling someone autistic after they admit to counting the number of ceiling tiles when they’re bored.

What I found interesting was in the UK the registry is broadly law enforcement only, but private citizens were given the privilege to inquire if someone was a sex offender. Consider that small change: after completing your sentence you live a normal productive integrated life, in order for someone to find out if you’re a “sex offender” they have to show up at the Constable’s office and talk to an officer to find out. Why is that better? First if you’re not doing anything then nobody but the nosiest neighbors have any reason to ask, and then if they did I feel like it would suddenly raise a flag with the police to find out why they felt compelled to ask. That’s an oportunity to do real police work, the registry would generate tips instead of dousing everyone with a fire hose of fear.

problem is nobody wants to donate to out of state challenge. That is the best way to hurt F.D.L.E by taking them to court with out of state challenge 5 dollars or ten dollars there Really everybody seeing what Val and the other attorney doing. The only way to to stop Florida from getting that big,fat and heavy check from the Feds is to show that people don’t live here.

Joseph you are completely correct! While the state is allowed to keep those of us who have left on their registry total they artificially inflate the numbers and thus the FEAR FACTOR that politicians like Lauren Book can spin into their LIE of “stranger danger” when they know perfectly well that those on the sex offender registry are NOT at all likely to be a danger but rather someone the family or child ALREADY KNOWS.

Everyone from Florida would benefit from the removal of former offenders who have left the state never to return! Just imagine if that were reality. Immediately thousands would petition the court to be removed (unless it was automatic – but I think it too much to hope for) then once those in Florida have completed their sentences they to can leave the shithole of a state and be free from its evil grasp on your balls!

Doesn’t seem like anyone cares about it though – judging by the donations for the out of state challenge lawsuit!

“FDLE claiming the state’s registry is a ‘valuable public safety tool.'”

I can appreciate FAC and anyone else pointing to the research that the registry has no discernable impact on public safety. FDLE however isn’t claiming that having a registry improves public safety, but that the registry is a valueable tool. The attack you want to be making is using our judicious Sunshine Laws to find out how often Law Enforcement are using the registry to identify suspects in sex crime investigations and how often registry information has contributed to identifying the correct suspect, and then how often offenders are reviewed as suspects but ruled out. What I’m getting at is identifying how useful a tool it actually is for solving crimes (we know it isn’t) and using FDLE data to demonstrate it.

I’ve been asking that very question for 10 years or more, and have yet to get an answer. I still search the ‘net for one single story about about a sex offense that the registry had any role – no matter how small – in identifying or arresting the accused. The majority of arrests are either for registry violations, and in the very few cases of registrants committing another sex crime, the registry status is never known until after arrest.

Another question I always ask is, what exactly is the public supposed to do with the information the registry provides? Follow him around and watch him closely? Sounds like stalking. Confront him? Sounds like harassment, possibly assault. Exercise caution when he’s around? Somehow a different kind of caution than with any other stranger? Seems like the best reaction would be to ignore him, in which case there’s no point in notification in the first place.

And all over a class of criminal with historically the lowest re-offense rates. Absurd.

Yea it’s on the rise and will get alot higher with how law enforcement and courts allow police stings and illegal stings. They want us on the blacklist, what other felony will provide them a lifetime of possible prison visits and a lifetime of constant cash flow.sad part is before this happened I wanted to work in the government. Particularly as a sheriff’s officer,now I see why my family and so many people despise the government for its corrupt ways.

Please Help Our Cause

Full Site Search

Search for:

Archives

Archives

Recorded Meetings and Weekly Updates

Meetings and Weekly Updates can be listened to when it's most convenient for you.
• Dial: (605) 475-4953
• Enter Access Code: 739392#
• Choose the recording to hear: Enter the Recording ID, or press # to hear the most recent recording. Weekly Update recording ID can be found on the Weekly Update page on this site.

FAC Community Calls

General Membership Calls:• 1st Thurs of the month at 8 pm
New Member Orientation:• 2nd Thurs of the month at 8 pm
To Participate:• Dial (319) 527-3487• To join directly on your computer or smartphone, CLICK HERE.